Sports

Is this the end of an era for KTA?

Published

7 years ago

May 18, 2018

MASERU – For so many years, Khubetsoana All-Stars have been the standard bearers of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Over the past decade one strong contender after another has come and gone and all the while KTA All-Stars have been ever-present atop the NBL standings. The names and faces – from Ratšolo Molupe to Sekhoane Moshabesha to Molale Monnapula – have largely remained constant as well and that constancy has translated into an unprecedented run of success in Lesotho’s basketball top-flight for the Khubetsoana ball-club.
Champions in 2014, finalists in 2015 and champions again in 2016, KTA have dominated the NBL and their three titles since 2012 are the most over that span.

It is that steady quality that has come to define the club and it is why last weekend’s NBL semi-final playoffs exit at the hands of Lerotholi Polytechnic was so shocking. It wasn’t just that KTA lost to a Fokothi team that only scraped into the playoffs by finishing fourth in the regular season league standings but the way in which KTA lost.

For a team that has always found a way to win through their experienced, methodical style of play, KTA looked befuddled against a hungrier Lerotholi side on Sunday at Lehakoe to lose 60-52 in Game 2 of the best-of-three semi-final series. That defeat coupled with last Saturday’s 72-65 upset in Game 1 meant KTA lost the series 2-0 and, after falling to Bokamoso South at the same stage last year, this marks the first time KTA will be absent from the NBL finals for two successive years.

That fact by itself raises a simple question: is this the end of an era for KTA?
“Locally, we are still better than any other team,” KTA veteran point guard Molupe insisted when asked about the team’s future prospects.
“We are still confident that we are the deepest team even though we could not win.”

Molupe, one of the club’s captains, is the right person to speak to because he has been at the heart of KTA’s success this past decade and it is unsurprising that he remains bullish. However, one thing was clear from the weekend’s exit to Lerotholi – the KTA needs to reinforce.
Even Molupe admitted as much.

Being experienced in the young man’s game that is the NBL is an advantage over a long season where consistency is valuable but, in win or go home situations like the playoffs, age can be a problem; ultimately KTA were also overwhelmed by Lerotholi because their squad was thinned by players having “life” commitments such as work, for example.

As Molupe put it, “The fact that we have mature players with age and life engagements and employment commitments sabotages us. We ended up going to the playoffs with seven players instead of the full squad of 12 because most of our players had engagements.”
He continued: “In Game 1 we lost the game with a few seconds left (in the game) and we went in to the second match under massive pressure while our opponents were highly motivated and had no pressure. On top of that we used all our energy to fight for that Game 1. So in Game 2 all our energy was drained and we were short of players.”

With their semi-final letdown in mind KTA are already wheeling and dealing to bring in reinforcements.
“We have a new addition (named) Tefo Mosala from Leseli (Tigers) who will help us a lot defensively, meaning we are going to be improved,” Molupe said. “We have another new player, Thabang Glass, with a lot of experience; he played for the national team and in professional leagues in South Africa,” he added.

The signings are needed because there are new powers in local basketball. The other NBL playoffs semi-final features reigning champions Bokamoso South, who are looking to make their third finals in a row, and Lichocha Shooting Rifles who were runners up to Bokamoso last year.
Both clubs have a focus on youth and they employ the exact up-tempo style that has proved too much for KTA All Stars in the playoffs for the past two years.
It is obvious, therefore, that KTA will have to adapt or die in the NBL food-chain and it is clear they need a squad that can compete all year round.
Encouragingly for their supporters, KTA appear willing to face the challenge head on.
“KTA is called All-Stars because all players are stars,” Molupe said.

“Well done to Lerotholi for winning but I believe we will be back to our normal best. We are out of the (NBL) championship but we are preparing for the Swaziland Invitational International Tournament next month.” Unfair or not, KTA’s performance in Swaziland will again be a referendum on where the club stands because the simple truth is that all good things must come to an end someday.

The journey has brought KTA here and now this next chapter of the club’s storied history will reveal if this is indeed the end of an era or if KTA All-Stars can continue to lead the way in Lesotho’s basketball elite.

Nkheli Liphoto

Sports

Big dreams for the New Year

Published

7 days ago

January 6, 2025

The Post

MASERU

The sport fraternity has opened a new chapter with the dawn of the New Year, closing what was a difficult year for football.

Last year began in grief when, in February, the football fraternity mourned the death of former Likuena coach Moses Maliehe, who lost his life following a long illness.

It was his Likuena side that famously came close to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, but suffered a heartbreak on the final day of the qualifiers, playing to a draw with Cape Verde when they needed a victory to book a ticket to Egypt.

While the country was still mourning for Maliehe, the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) announced the untimely passing of Mehalalitoe head coach Pule Khojane after a short illness.

Khojane was also the association’s Coach Educator, a role he also held with Africa’s football governing body, CAF.

However, it was not all doom and gloom in sport.

Other sporting codes achieved major highs in 2024, one of which was Lesotho being granted full membership by World Rugby after being associate members for only two years.

Lesotho was one of three countries – alongside Egypt and Guatemala – that were elevated to full World Rugby member
status after approval during the international federation’s council meeting on November 14.

Another highlight came last October when the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) played host to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Dr Thomas Bach, who made a high profile visit to the country.

Bach was in Lesotho on a two-day visit as part of his tour across the African continent.

Bach’s trip aimed to emphasise the increasing significance of Africa in the Olympic Games as well as to acknowledge and encourage the development of sports in Lesotho.

Upon his arrival in the country, Bach met with the Minister of Sports, Motlatsi Maqelepo.

Bach also paid a courtesy call on the acting Prime Minister, Selibe Mochoboroane, followed by a tour of Lehakoe Sports Arena.

Meanwhile, a difficult year for football ended on a positive note with LEFA announcing the return of league champions to the CAF Champions League next year.

The sports fraternity will be hoping the new year brings even more positives for the country.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Back to base for LCS?

Published

7 days ago

January 6, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Football Club look set for a long-awaited homecoming to their cherished colliseum when Vodacom Premier League action returns later this month.

It has been three months since the LCS Ground was banned from hosting league games when premiership sponsors, Vodacom, demanded the venue be stripped of hosting rights for the 2024/25 season.

Vodacom was unhappy because the LCS Ground is branded with the colours of their rival telecommunications company, Econet Telecom Lesotho.

‘Masheshena’ has been fighting to regain use of their home ground ever since and, in the meantime, they have been forced to pack their bags and use Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and Ratjomose Ground as home grounds.

The six-time league champions have struggled without their home turf advantage and find themselves languishing in ninth place having already lost five of their 11 matches this season.

The New Year, however, appears to have brought good tidings for LCS fans and talks between the club, the Premier League and sponsors Vodacom are said to be at an advanced stage.

Speaking to thepost this week, ‘Masheshena’ spokesperson Kofa Rantai confirmed talks have been positive and plans are afoot to have the club back at their home ground.

“The talks are advanced and the plan is to host our second round games at our ground,” Rantai told thepost.

“We still have four games left in the first round and we will play those games in January and maybe one of those games will be at LCS but our plan is for the second round games,” he added.

Not only have LCS had to hire grounds but they have also missed out on precious revenue as other Premier League teams such as Liphakoe and Machokha, used to rent the LCS Ground to use as their home ground.

“In the coming weeks we will know more, however, I can say it has been very costly hosting games at Bambatha because when you hire the ground, you also have to hire a cleaning company.

“Sometimes we played at Ratjomose, which we also had to pay for,” Rantai said.

The Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) chairman, Moeketsi Ramakatsa, confirmed that the LCS ground is set to be part of the Vodacom Premier League season in the second round.

The ban on the venue also gave the PLMC a painful headache because there are not enough grounds that can host elite league matches.

The LCS Ground was one of few arenas that met most of the requirements set out by the PLMC.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Likuena Faces Uphill Battle in CHAN Qualifiers

Published

3 weeks ago

December 22, 2024

The Post

Likuena will need a significant turnaround in the second leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers after a 2-0 loss to Angola at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Goals from Pedro Pessoa and Caporal in the first half put Lesotho on the back foot early, making a comeback difficult. Head coach Leslie Notši acknowledged the challenges but said his team displayed improved performance in the second half.

“Conceding two early goals that’s where the difference was, they dominated the first half but I thought we came back better in the second half we tried to create opportunities which I think we could have done better, for us that’s something we can build on,” Notši said when speaking to the reporters in a post-match press conference.

He also took note of Angola’s quality and consistency but insisted that his team remains determined to show up and compete in the return leg in Luanda next week. Even though, the odds are stacked against them, Notši sees this as a learning opportunity for his young players.

“It was locally based player but you can see that they have quality in their team. There are a lot of good attributes that we took from the match, there are youngsters in our team and I think they had a good run,” he said.

“The second leg in Luanda is a tough match but we still believe in ourselves, we will give them the respect due to them but at the same time we are going there to be competitive. It’s an opportunity for our boys to get this kind of opportunities to improve themselves,” he continued.

Despite slim chances of qualification, Likuena aims to build on the positives from their first-leg showing.

Likuena squad

Goalkeepers

Tankiso Chaba (LCS), Ntsane Molise (Linare) Leluma Mofoka (Matlama).

Defenders

Rethabile Mokokoane (Matlama), Mohlomi Makhetha (LCS), Thabo Mafatle (Bantu), Mpho Hlephole (Lioli), Thabo Matšoele, Rethabile Rasethuntša (both Linare)

Midfielders

Lisema Lebokollane (Matlama), Jerry Kamela (Lioli), Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Moteloa Khemisi, Hlompho Kalake (all Bantu) Tšepo Toloane, Lehlohonolo Matsau (both LDF), Paseka Maile (Kick4Life).

Forwards

Jane Thabantšo (Matlama), Katleho Makateng (LDF), Keketso Snyders (LCS).

Tlalane Phahla